Matías Riccitelli Sobre Suelos Calcareos Cabernet Franc 2021

This cuvée comes from Gualtallary, in the Uco Valley, south of the city of Mendoza. The vines grow here at around 1,400 metres above sea level, on limestone soils mixed with gravel and fine sand, which give the wines a characteristic chalky imprint. The high-altitude climate, bright by day and cool at night, preserves the acidity and purity of the fruit. The vineyard is farmed agroecologically, with no herbicides or systemic products.

The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and then moved by gravity into small concrete tanks. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts at between 25 and 27 °C, with very gentle cap management for slow extraction. The wine is then aged for ten months in French oak barrels and bottled without fining or filtration.

This wine reveals notes of redcurrant, raspberry, blackcurrant bud, sweet pepper, white pepper, wild herbs, tobacco leaf and charcoal. Small red berries mingle with spicy and herbal touches that reflect the freshness of the vintage. The palate is juicy and taut, structured by fine, precise, chalky tannins, through to a long, linear and attractively tangy finish.

Although Argentina is often considered part of the "New World," its winemaking tradition is much older than one might think, dating back to the Spanish colonization of the 16th century and later to Italian settlers. Unlike Chile, wine has long been an integral part of the country's culture. No other wine-producing country in the world made more progress in the latter years of the 20th century (in viticulture, oenology, and, of course, finance), which allowed the country's winemakers to raise quality levels and successfully establish an international export market. Argentina is now the fifth largest wine-producing country in the world, after France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. Viticulture is practiced primarily in the foothills of the Andes, particularly in Mendoza, where the desert landscapes and high altitudes combine to create aromatic and intensely flavorful wines. Some vineyards are even planted at altitudes of up to 3,000 meters! The terroir here is well-suited to the grape variety adopted by Argentina: the ubiquitous Malbec. Originally from Bordeaux, it is now the source of some of Argentina's most famous wines, characterized by their brilliance and intensity, with floral notes and dark fruit flavors. Other red varieties produced in Argentina include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bonarda, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Pinot Noir. Among white wines, the emblematic grape of the Argentine wine region is Torrontés, which yields a wine with a floral and tropical taste. The country also produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio. Today, Argentine wines are recognized worldwide for their full-bodied reds and as being of high quality.